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''Making of a Godol: A Study of Episodes in the Lives of Great Torah Personalities'' is a two-volume book written and published in 2002, with an improved edition published in 2005, by Rabbi Nathan Kamenetsky (1930-),〔On Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night), March 12, 2005 (which was prior to the publication of the second edition), the author gave a speech at the Young Israel of Beth El in Boro Park (Brooklyn, New York), entitled "Making of a Ban." See (). The speech can be heard at () and is cited repeatedly in this article.〕 son of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky,〔The author is the son-in-law of Rabbi David Lifshitz. ''Making of a Godol'', second edition, inner-cover-blurb.〕 about the lives of his father〔Rabbi Nathan Kamenetsky's research was also the basis for ''Reb Yaakov'' by Yonasan Rosenblum (Mesorah Publications, 1993).〕 and of various other Jewish sages of the 19th and 20th centuries, who are revered by Orthodox (especially Haredi) Jews. The word ''Godol'' means "great ()" in Hebrew, and refers to exceptional Talmudic scholars who are often prominent Roshei Yeshiva (heads of yeshivas). The book, which resulted from about 15 years of extensive research,〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 1:09-1:10.〕 includes much historical background based on over 800 sources,〔The author conducted 386 interviews, and relied on 440 additional sources. ''Making of a Godol'', second edition, p. 1323. All sources are listed at p.p. 1323-1350.〕 and is very detailed in its stories and biographies. Some readers find this tedious, while others find that the book offers many valuable insights into the lives of great men. Due to the banning of both editions (see next section), not more than 1,000 sets of each edition are in existence.〔See ()〕 ==Bans against both editions== Soon after it was first published, a group of 10 leading Haredi rabbis in Israel, first among them Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, appeared to issue an official letter banning the book,〔For the full text of the bans against both editions, see ().〕 claiming that it was disrespectful to the rabbis whose lives it describes. For example, the book records that Rabbi Aharon Kotler read Russian books in his youth. The book also claims that as a young man studying in yeshiva, Rabbi Kotler was a "sore loser" at chess and he would always demand from his opponent to be able to take back moves once he realized that they were a mistake. This is said to have prompted a grandson of Rabbi Kotler to urge Rabbi Eliashiv to ban the book. Rabbi Kamenetsky responded that he did not consider such information to be disparaging. (Indeed, he wrote that his father also had read Russian books). Rather, he was merely recounting a ''nisayon'' (personal test or trial) that these great men experienced in the process of becoming Gedolim (great sages) during the difficult period of Haskalah.〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 31:00-33:00. See also () (citing Rabbi Kamenetsky’s unpublished book, ''Anatomy of a Ban'', as stating that it was loyalists of Rabbi Kotler "who launched the effort to get the book banned").〕 The author stated, however, that Rabbi Eliashiv had agreed to defer publicizing the letter until he had the opportunity to speak with the author in person (Rabbi Kamenetsky was in the United States at the time for medical purposes). This agreement was thwarted when "zealots" publicized the letter prematurely without permission, an action that caused Rabbi Eliashiv to be "furious."〔See ''Reb Yaakov'' (Mesorah Publications, 1993) p.p. 208-209 (describing Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky's "abhorrence of a certain type of misguided zealotry that he feared was invading the () religious world").〕 Although the ban was still not official, it was very difficult to subdue the message of Rabbi Eliashiv's letter, countersigned by nine other sages, which now lined the walls of the religious neighborhoods of Jerusalem.〔The "zealots" had been given a copy of the letter for the purpose of gathering additional signatures, but had not been authorized to release it. Less than two days after the author came to the above-discussed agreement with Rabbi Eliashiv, the letter was enlarged, and pasted all over Jerusalem. "Making of a Ban" speech at about 43:00-45:00.〕 Despite further negotiations, through which the author was almost able to prevent the ban from taking effect (or have it withdrawn), Rabbi Kamenetsky states that "zealots" falsely accused him of breaking his promise to temporarily stop selling books, which led to the ban becoming official.〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 48:00-53:00. Rabbi Kamenetsky notes that he had no more books to sell at the time, as they had all sold out in the first six weeks. Speech at about 50:00-52:00.〕 The ban was highly controversial in the Orthodox Jewish world.〔See, e.g., ()〕 Rabbi Kamenetsky has noted that none of the 10 Israeli signatories of the ban personally read ''Making of a Godol'' and, indeed, all but one (Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg) are unable to read English.〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 17:00-20:00; 1:05-1:06.〕 Although he did not agree with the ban, and believed that the signatories of the ban were misled by "zealots,"〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 34:00-43:00, 48:00-53:00〕 Rabbi Kamenetsky abided by it, primarily out of his reverence for Rabbi Eliashiv. However, Rabbi Kamenetsky lamented that had Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach or Rabbi Elazar Shach been living he is certain that the ban would have never been issued, as these sages would have insisted on hearing his side of the story first.〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 27:00-29:00〕 Rabbi Kamenetsky stated that, in writing the book, he "naively believed that everyone would appreciate getting a true, human glimpse () our spiritual leaders," and that this honest portrayal "is what bothered the zealots."〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 59:00-1:01〕 Rabbi Kamenetsky argued that he has more respect for Torah sages than do the "zealots," in that they believe that it is an embarrassment to reveal the truth about the Gedolim,〔"Gedolim" is plural of "Godol"〕 whereas he believes that there is no need to hide anything, because knowing the truth about the Gedolim only increases one's respect for them (due to their vast accomplishments, despite facing life's trials and being human).〔"Making of a Ban" speech at about 1:07-1:08〕 The author addressed the ban in his 2003 book ''Anatomy of a Ban,'' which is currently unavailable to the public.〔See (); "Making of a Ban" speech at about 07:00-10:00.〕 Shortly after releasing the second edition of ''Making of a Godol,'' Rabbi Kamenetsky discussed the ban of the first edition, and expressed hope that the second edition would not meet the same fate.〔See ().〕 Nevertheless, a new letter was issued in March 2006, with the rabbis who issued it, first among them Rabbi Eliashiv, declaring that the second edition was reviewed by Rabbis Dan Segal and Yosef Rosenblum, and that the original ban remained in force for the second edition.〔See (). 〕 The second ban was reportedly in violation of an agreement between Rabbi Kamenetsky and Rabbi Eliashiv, that the second edition would not be banned without Rabbi Kamenetsky first being given an opportunity to defend the work. Indeed, Rabbi Kamenetsky reports that, before the second ban was issued, he sent letters to most of the signatories of the first ban, informing them of this agreement with Rabbi Eliashiv.〔"Latest (of a Godol ) Ban Runs Counter to an Agreement with (Eliashiv )", March 22, 2006, located at ()〕 Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, a signatory to the first ban, did not participate in the second ban, having apologized to Rabbi Kamenetsky, and given his word that he would have nothing more to do with the matter.〔(). That source also notes that Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, a signatory of the first ban, was no longer living at the time the second ban was issued; indeed, Rabbi Wolbe's signature is not found on the second ban. See ().〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Making of a Godol」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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